Ilia Topuria wants to fight Canelo Alvarez in boxing while dodging his UFC title defense. The Spanish-Georgian fighter has set his sights on the Mexican boxing superstar, even as he faces criticism in the MMA world.
Topuria, the current UFC lightweight champion, has made it clear he's a big fan of Canelo. He's not shy about his admiration, either.
"Who will win between Crawford and Canelo? Canelo, obviously. He is a reference for me."
But Topuria isn't content with just being a fan. He's aiming for a chance to step into the ring with Canelo himself. The UFC champ has reached out to Turki Alalshikh, the president of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and a key figure in promoting big boxing events.
"I want my chance against him. I feel I can beat him. If I get the chance to fight him, why not? Come on, Turki, give me the chance for the title."
While Topuria dreams of boxing glory, he's stirring up controversy in the UFC. The lightweight champ has flat-out refused to defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan, a top contender in the division.
"I will never give him the opportunity to fight for the title."
Tsarukyan isn't taking this lying down. He's been putting pressure on Topuria through social media, keeping the issue in the spotlight and accusing the champ of making excuses.
As a result, some fans have started calling Topuria a coward for avoiding the title defense. It's a stark contrast to his bold challenge to one of boxing's biggest stars.
Meanwhile, Canelo Alvarez is gearing up for his own massive fight. He's set to face Terence Crawford in one of the year's most-anticipated bouts, with his undisputed 168-pound championship on the line.
As Topuria continues to chase his boxing dreams and dodge UFC challengers, the MMA world watches with interest. Will the Spanish-Georgian fighter manage to secure his dream fight, or will the pressure to defend his UFC title prove too much? Only time will tell.
